🌸 Spring Forward
2:00 AM → 3:00 AM
🍂 Fall Back
2:00 AM → 1:00 AM
Spring Transition
Lose one hour of sleep but gain evening daylight
Summer Months
Enjoy extended daylight hours for outdoor activities
Fall Transition
Gain an extra hour of sleep as we return to standard time
Winter Months
Earlier sunrises help with morning routines
Health Considerations for Illinois Residents
Medical research has revealed important health impacts of time changes in Illinois. The spring forward transition is associated with a 7% increase in heart attacks during the first three days after the change. Car accidents also spike by approximately 7% on the Monday following the spring time change.
Technology and Time Changes in 2026
Modern devices handle DST transitions automatically, but some systems still require manual updates. In 2026, ensure your smart home devices, car navigation systems, and older electronics are properly configured. Many IoT devices now use internet time servers for automatic updates, reducing the burden on users in Illinois.
IT departments should be particularly vigilant about server time synchronization, especially for systems handling financial transactions or time-sensitive operations.
Agricultural Considerations
Farmers in Illinois have historically had mixed feelings about DST. While the original justification for DST included giving farmers more daylight hours, modern farming practices rely heavily on the sun's position rather than clock time. Dairy farmers particularly note that cows don't adjust their biological clocks, creating temporary disruptions in milking schedules.
Did You Know?
The European Union voted to end DST in 2019, but implementation has been delayed.
Germany and Austria-Hungary were the first countries to use DST in 1916 during World War I.